acquisitions
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Agencies & People
Life’s a beach
Life’s a beach …or it could be, if Belvoir – or any other business-hungry buyer – came knocking on your door. Nigel Lewis speaks to Commercial and Franchise Director Dorian Gonsalves.
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Agencies & People
Romans acquires Bramptons
Sales and lettings agency, Bramptons, has become the latest in a growing list of firms to merge with the Romans Group, it has been announced. Romans has acquired the Bramptons branches at Beaconsfield and Gerrards Cross in Buckinghamshire, marking the Group’s seventh acquisition of 2015. All members of staff at Bramptons have joined Romans under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006, otherwise known as TUPE, including the firm’s Director, Peter Scott. Commenting on the merger, Scott said, “The decision to sell to Romans was not one that was taken lightly; we are all extremely passionate about property and have thoroughly enjoyed working across South Buckinghamshire building Brampton’s reputation as a reliable and trusted estate and lettings agency. “Therefore, it was imperative that we sold to a company with the same passion as us, but who could also bring additional experience and investment to improve the service our clients, current and future, receive.” As part of the Romans Group, Bramptons will now be able to offer clients a property auctions sales room, surveying, conveyancing, planning expertise, and access to new homes developments, in addition to its existing sales and lettings service. Richard Frost (MARLA), Lettings Director at the…
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Agencies & People
Buy to grow
What is the best way to expand – buy a business or build one from scratch? It’s a tough decision and different companies have come to very different conclusions, as Adam Walker of Adam J Walker & Associates explains.
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Agencies & People
BUY BUY BUY!!! Leaders, Romans and Connells complete acquisitions
Leaders has acquired Home Counties estate agency Aston Mead in a deal which brings it additional branches in two new areas, taking it past the 100 branch milestone. Aston Mead trades from Epsom, Walton-on-Thames, Weybridge and Woking where Leaders will be merging the business with its existing, well established branches; as well as from Sunningdale and Chertsey which are new areas for Leaders and will take the firm to just over 100 branches. Leaders passed another significant milestone recently when it welcomed its 1000th member of staff following the acquisition of IMS Letting in Derby in June. Matthew Light (left of the main picture), Leaders’ former finance director who recently took up the new role of acquisitions director, said, “We extend a very warm welcome to all our new staff and clients who join us from Aston Mead, and a special welcome to our new team in Sunningdale, which is our 100th branch.The Romans Group has acquired Meldrum Salter Edgley in Guildford and Connells Group has snapped up another lettings business a – Cartwrights in Stafford. Meanwhile, Romans’ decision to buy Meldrum Salter Edgley fits in with the firm’s expansion strategy, and follows on from the acquisition of James Griffin…
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Agencies & People
Countrywide further expands lettings business
Countrywide Residential Lettings, part of the UK’s largest estate agency and property services Group, has acquired four successful lettings businesses over the past three months. The recent acquisitions include Property Links in Plymouth; Anderson Residential a full service lettings agency in Sutton Coldfield; the large portfolio of HE Lettings in Lincolnshire and All in One Move in Swindon. As part of Countrywide plc, all four acquired businesses will benefit from the Group’s shared marketing services, property market insight due to economies of scale and shared services from local lettings agency brands. Nick Dunning, Group Commercial Director, Countrywide plc, said, “The acquisitions we made in quarter one, 2015 are in line with our selective acquisitions strategy, which is focused on delivering the best growth and success for all parties involved. These acquisitions significantly increase our regional footprint and fill in the geographical gaps in our portfolio. Current market conditions offer ongoing opportunities to acquire lettings businesses and scope to enter new markets as well as expand our presence in existing markets.” Over the past five years Countrywide has invested over £80 million in acquiring more than 100 lettings businesses throughout England and Scotland. During that period, Countrywide has opened over 100…
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Agencies & People
LSL acquires major stake in Thomas Morris
The acquisitions arm of LSL, LSLi, has acquired a significant shareholding in Thomas Morris estate agents which covers Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire. Four of the seven previous partners have now exited the business as a result of the major stake snapped up by LSLi, the holding company for several estate agency brands based largely in the Home Counties with a combined network of 57 branches made up of wholly owned and franchise branches, including Intercounty, Frosts, JNP, Goodfellows, Davis Tate, Lauristons, Lawlors, Hawes & Co and Thomas Morris. Simon Bradbury (left), who along with Russell Sansby and Kevin Thomas, is remaining with Thomas Morris, keeping hold of an equity share, said: “Our experience with LSLi over the last few months has been extremely positive. “What we’ve found most appealing about the whole experience is that we will continue to run Thomas Morris but we also now have the backing of the second largest estate agency group in the UK, who understand our business, and which means that together we will continue to invest in Thomas Morris. “Most importantly the deal provides added security and additional opportunities for all the staff at Thomas Morris. We’re all really excited about the future.”…
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Agencies & People
Hamptons International acquires John Curtis
Hamptons International has this week announced that it has acquired John Curtis, a sales and lettings agency based in Hertfordshire. John Curtis, a well established agency with offices located in Harpenden and Wheathampstead, offers a full range of sales and lettings services. The acquisition of John Curtis demonstrates Hamptons International’s willingness and ambition of wanting to grow and strengthen its service further, according to Mark Goldberg (left), Head of Sales at Hamptons International. Commenting on the acquisition, he said: “We are delighted to start 2015 with such a strong acquisition. John Curtis is the leading sales and lettings agency in Harpenden and the surrounding area and will help to significantly strengthen our footprint in the Hertfordshire region, while bolstering our profile north of London. Today’s acquisition signifies a key part of the company’s strategic plan to expand its UK network, which includes 85 branches across London and the South of the UK.” Ken Whittaker (right), Director at John Curtis, which has been established in the community for over 40 years, also expressed his delight at the fact that his firm has now been integrated into the Hamptons International network. He commented: “We look forward to strengthening our position by being…
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Latest property news
Countrywide set to make fresh acquisitions
Countrywide has announced that it has reached an agreement to increase its financing facilities from £150 million to £250 million. The FTSE-250-listed plan to use the additional finance for general corporate purposes, including the funding of potential acquisitions. The £250 million revolving credit facility, which will mature on March 20, 2018, has been provided by its current banking syndicate, comprising Abbey National Treasury Services, AIB Group (UK), Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds and National Westminster. Countrywide said that the added borrowing capacity was in line with a rise in the firm’s profitability. Jim Clarke, the Chief Financial Officer at Countrywide, said, “We are pleased that our existing banking partners continue to support us, and we are able to continue our strategy for growth, both organically and through acquisitions, while maintaining conservative levels of financial leverage.” Nick Dunning (left), Group Commercial Director at Countrywide, last month said it was an “exciting period” for Countrywide Residential Lettings, with the growth in the firm’s operation a major focus for the entire group. Since the start of last year, Countrywide has acquired 23 lettings businesses. With plans for further acquisitions in the pipeline for this year, Countrywide Residential Lettings recently launched its third Graduate Management Programme,…
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Agencies & People
Agents announce major acquisitions
Carter Jonas has announced that it has agreed a deal to buy the New Square Holdings Group comprising two Cambridge based property companies, while Brown and Merry, which is part of the Sequence UK network, has acquired Berkhamsted and Chesham based independent estate agent, Adrian Cole & Partners. Carter Jonas’ acquisition of Januarys, the commercial and planning consultants, and residential sales and lettings agency, Bradshaws, will be effective from 30 January 2015, and will increase Carter Jonas’ team of property specialists based in Cambridge to 80. Over the coming months, the various business streams of the two firms will combine to produce a multi-disciplinary property consultancy, covering the eastern region with offices in: Cambridge, Bury St. Edmunds, Peterborough, Long Melford and Northampton. Mark Granger (left), Chief Executive, Carter Jonas, commented: “The acquisition of Januarys and Bradshaws continues the growth of our presence in the eastern region that has included other purchases in the last few years, namely Jeffersons Commercial, and the rural business, HW Dean. It is very much in line with our national strategy.” This latest deal follows a series of recent acquisitions by Carter Jonas including Sullivan Thomas, the residential business based in Fulham, Parsons Green and Wandsworth;…
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Agencies & People
Big wheels keep on turning
Andrea Kirkby investigates corporate strategy in a difficult market.
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